Don't listen to the negative reviews

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

I don't care who says what, I like this movie. I'm from the inner-city and this story is a mirror reflection on my experience, not with all the killing but the same pressures. The acting was amateur, but it really kept my interest. I also listened to the director's commentary. It is the director's first film, he shot it trying with some friends in two weeks and got a distribution deal. That's cool. I'm almost jealous. It makes me want go out and do something with my movie ideas. I hope he keeps it up despite some of the "nay sayers". African-American film makers are a so few and far between, someone has to tell our stories. I thing there's a spot somewhere in Tinsel Town for him.

One thing is for sure, two things are for certain, making films is a BIT-- and let me tell you, with no money and no time it's a SON of A BIT--. I'm not even talking about getting distribution or studio funding for your next script (Universal's $$$$$), but that's a new whole new topic. This isn't a job it's a life style. Your first film and your tenth will be worlds apart, if you make it to ten from all the discouragement you'll get form the "side lines". If you don't know try it. It's much harder then commenting on films all day. This movie is the beginning of one's journey, watch the conclusion, see how it all plays out. Best wishes. Big up to all indie filmmakers! U can do it, TRUST ME, I KNOW!!!!!

LOOKING FORWARD TO FUTURE PROJECTS FROM THIS WRITER/DIRECTOR!!! I'm an AD, Camera Operator and Editor who has worked on many independent low budget productions from NYC to LA. Let me tell you, it is HARD to make things happen if you are just starting out! I was in Philly visiting a friend when I heard about the P.U.M.P. festival, where Money Power and Respect won Best Feature. I gotta say I was not looking forward to sitting through yet another low budget DV film. Generally speaking, the casts are amateur, the scripts are terrible and the shooting is really awful. They're often just made for a quick buck.I saw Money Power and Respect and was very happy I stayed. It was not a 'ghetto mess' as I expected. What shines the brightest, I think, is the writing. The characters come across as real people, the young thugs on the rise to 'Scarface-esque' success have their own personalities and outlooks, rather than being one dimensional as they are in many low budget scripts. Also, hats off to the director, J. Hill, who wrote, directed, produced and co-starred as the sophisticated drug dealer Juan. It must have been a ridiculous challenge to wear all of those hats and get the project off the ground.If you are a filmmaker or a writer who has dealt with the frustration of trying to make a SHORT FILM, let alone a FEATURE get off the ground in a minor city (i.e. not LA or NYC), you will appreciate this film.Hell, you'll be inspired to write and locally produce your own scripts, or friends scripts -- because this film was made cheap and has been DISTRIBUTED in Best Buy and Tower and other outlets.The bottom line is, before you can caught up in what the haters have to say -- keep a close eye on young talent like J. Hill. The buzz in Philly is that he has a new project with Lil Zane and Sundy Carter that will be coming out soon, and that will certainly catch the eye of other industry folks who will be looking to throw in some serious loot for future projects. In my experience, having seen many folks come and go, this is a solid debut from a writer/director who has a future in the business.I'm rating this film 7 out of 10 NOT because I think it stands up next to big budget films that I think are 7s out of 10 (like Con Air, Fast and the Furious or, in a different genre, the recent The Breakup with Vince Vaughn) but because it is a very solid debut DV film that outshines many of it's competitors.

I watch a lot of low budget indie films. Sometimes you see a film that despite its modest budget is able to tell a story and entertain. This film however is not one of them. The film suffers from terrible sound, bad photography and bad editing. The sound is so poor that about a third of the film is incomprehensible. Many films shot on DV can display an adequate image. This film has every scene shown with a very high noise level; even the daylight shots! On the commentary track the DP brags that the night scenes were shot without lights. Well that explains why the actors look like moving shadows. At night you at least need to back-light actors to differentiate them from the background.A competent director can work around technical issues and concentrate on acting blocking and coverage. The director appears to have given no thought on blocking. There are several scenes, such as when Levi visits his mother and little brother, where the actors are standing in front of one another and you can't see who is even talking! The acting is poor across the board and the director has decided to place the camera in a single position for an entire scene.